Old and new furniture can be offset by contemporary and traditional window decor

For homeowners who have inherited furniture from relatives that has little in common with their own décor, there's a new trend afoot that can solve that decorating problem.


"With emphasis on comfort and personal style, many homes include varied elements of aesthetic form and practical function," furniture designer Mike Howarth told Hamptons.com.


The first step in combining furniture styles effectively is to decide how a room will be used. A dining room that is reserved for visitors, for instance, should have a more formal look than one where the main family meal is served to both adults and children each day.


Once the use of the room is established, home decorators should plan a room layout. Taping out the size of major furnishings on the floor helps to visualize how individual pieces will look together.


"Begin with style and design, then follow with size and placement. Rooms should have space for traffic paths with unblocked openings," Howarth told the website.


Juxtaposing traditional window treatments with contemporary shades or blinds is another way to combine old and new elements. Custom drapery can be installed over coordinated fabric roller shades, which are available in a wide choice of colors and patterns.